2009 Ford Edge Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Ford Edge report two dominant themes in the sampled complaints: a power brake booster that fails and leaves the pedal hard or sinking to the floor, and the Takata driver/passenger inflator recall, which many owners say could not be completed for lack of parts. Around the high-mileage years owners also describe fuel tank corrosion and leaks, harsh or slipping transmission behavior, and recurring rear tail light bulb and socket failures.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Power brake booster failure (hard pedal, poor stopping)

   • 36 complaints (14%)
   • median 103,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $675 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2024

   Complaints describe a brake pedal that suddenly becomes very hard to press or sinks toward the floor, sometimes with a hissing or whistling noise, making the vehicle slow to stop. Several owners state an independent mechanic or the dealer diagnosed a failed brake booster; some say the repair was not covered and that their vehicle was not included in the related customer satisfaction program, while others report the booster was replaced. Reported across a wide mileage span, from about 10,000 to over 200,000 miles, often in low-speed stopping situations and at traffic lights.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the pedal at a stop with the engine running: it should be firm, not rock hard, and should not hiss. Ask whether the brake booster has been replaced and request service records for the brake system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in downtown detroit I was approaching a red light as I applied pressure to the brake pedal it was rock hard. Also, when applying the brake there is hissing sound. It was explained to me that the problem is the brake booster. Which the dealership will not cover. The estimate given by the dealership for the cost of the repair is $550.”

   NHTSA complaint #10995348, filed 2017-06, 158,000 miles

   “Pedal went hard and down to the floor. Came close to rear ending car in front of me. From what I've heard this is a common issue and Ford doesn't have a recall, although they do with newer years of the same model. Very dangerous and these cars should have a recall.. It's absurd that a brake booster should fail and not have a recall with a known deadly issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365675, filed 2020-10, 115,500 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Takata airbag inflator recall pending or unfinished

   • 128 complaints (49%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Many complaints are about the frontal airbag inflator recall rather than a part failure: owners say they received notices but the dealer had no replacement parts and could not say when they would arrive. Others describe a warning light or an airbag that did not deploy in a collision, and ask what they should do meanwhile. Mostly reported from 2016 through 2018, across mileages from about 40,000 to 200,000, often after a recall letter was received.

   Recall 21V158000Recall 21V081000Recall 18V046000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVE3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN on the NHTSA recall site and ask the seller for proof that the inflator recall was completed. If it is open, ask which dealer will schedule the replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall -- after checking that my vehicle was impacted by this recall, I have continuously called dealers in virginia beach and northern virginia for the past year and there isnt even a waiting list. I am told to try back again without any suggestion as to when they will be have materials in stock to fix the situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #11041101, filed 2017-10, 150,000 miles

   “I received a letter from Ford about nov/dec 2017 advising me of the recall issues for my vehicle. I have not been able to speak to a Ford customer service rep, and my dealer nor the finance company know what to do. I received a more recent letter from Ford with options and stating that the parts required are still not available. I need to speak to someone because I am afraid of all the recall issues surrounding my vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11103634, filed 2018-06, 130,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh or delayed shifting, slipping, transmission noise

   • 15 complaints (6%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Complaints describe hard or delayed shifts, lurching when pulling away, revving without movement, and occasionally dropping into neutral while driving. Some owners were told the transmission or a related unit needed replacement; a few describe knocking or ticking noises from the driveline area. Spread from about 20,000 to over 200,000 miles, often noticed during low-speed acceleration or rolling stops.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low speed and from a stop, feeling for harsh engagements or hesitation, and check for whine or knock from underneath. Ask about transmission and driveline fluid service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2009 Ford EDGE started to shift hard a few months ago. I noticed that at times the car would lurch forward when starting out and knock into the gear.. About two weeks ago the car started to whine at speeds around 50mph. Last weekend there was a metal scraping sound when driving. My mechanic has diagnosed this as a transfer case problem. The unit needs to be replaced at 1600 dollars. After doing research, I have found that this is a know Ford problem and have found many many complaints by consumers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10638252, filed 2014-09, 95,000 miles

   “Ford has a well known transmission issue. The Ford EDGE will decide that it will not go into gear while in traffic, then when you restart it it resets and the problem seems to be gone. Someone is going to get killed. The transmissions hit hard or won't go into gear. These issues can't be fixed by the average consumer.. Transmission slips the you put the car into park or neutral and then it will go into gear, but I'm afraid I'm going to get hit. The car is in motion when it slips or skips or gets stuck. I don't really know what's happening.”

   NHTSA complaint #11245169, filed 2019-08, 159,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and fuel tank leak at seams or brackets

   • 22 complaints (8%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell at the rear or inside the cabin and, in some cases, fuel dripping under the vehicle. Complaints say the leak came from corroded seams or mounting points on the tank, and one owner reports a new leak after a tank replacement; several owners note their VIN was not covered by the tank recall even though the symptoms matched. Mostly reported between roughly 80,000 and 165,000 miles, often in vehicles driven in road-salt areas and noticed while parked.

   Recall 15V7120003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Smell around the rear wheel arches and look under the tank for wet seams or rust at the mounting brackets. Ask whether the fuel tank recall was performed and whether the tank has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I can smell gas at the rear of my car. I had my struts serviced and the mechanic noticed corrosion and a fuel leak.he didn't want to drop the tank to get a closer look fr fear it would void a recall repair. I checked for a recall and noted there was one for certain 2009 EDGE's but my VIN didn't show one.”

   NHTSA complaint #11193838, filed 2019-04, 130,000 miles

   “Driving home after I picked up the kids from school. I had a strong smell of gasoline in the cabin of my car. We were cr 108 not even a mile from my dirt road (willie hodges rd) I rolled down the windows, I have 3 kids, and made it home. I saw there was a recall on some 2009-2010 edges for faulty gas tanks. I looked up the VIN and the only recall I have on my car is for air bags, which they have yet to resolve. I have a feeling my EDGE was installed a faulty fuel tank.”

   NHTSA complaint #11020128, filed 2017-08, 129,000 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Rear tail light bulbs burning out and melted sockets

   • 13 complaints (5%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Complaints describe the rear tail, turn signal, or brake light failing repeatedly, with the socket found blackened or melted when the bulb is replaced. Some owners report the whole rear light assembly, backup lights, or sensors stopped working and a wiring harness repair was needed. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 95,000 miles, often noticed through a fast-flashing turn signal.

   What to check: Operate all rear lights and look inside the bulb sockets for discoloration or melted plastic. Ask whether the sockets or harness have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Continue right rear tail light burnout. Plastic on blubs melted. Discoloration on socket. I now have about 100,000 mi on the car and have replaced 5 bulbs. I wrote a letter to Ford and they rejected my complaint. This is a fire hazard. Industrial plastic melts at about 300 of. This is a design defect which Ford is ignoring! I can provide photos of burned out bulbs and damaged socket. Left rear turn bulb svl 12v 3157.”

   NHTSA complaint #10608816, filed 2014-07, 25,000 miles

   “Driver's side, rear tail light/ turn signal was signaling fast, letting me know there was an issue. The next day, it no longer signaled abnormally. The following day it was fast again and no longer illuminating. When I went to replace the bulb, the socket was black and melted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10486135, filed 2012-11, 66,000 miles

Buying note. Because the most common complaints concern braking and airbag recall work, confirm both before purchase: have the brake booster checked and verify the inflator recall status for the specific VIN. Inspect the fuel tank area for corrosion and smell, and drive the vehicle at low speed to feel for transmission harshness.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.